Belltent or soulpad?

[hellymelly]

any thoughts as to which is better? the belltent tents seem to have a good doorway which stops leaks,but the soulpad ones have a mosquito net at the entrance.Hmm.they seem about the same price so i am stuck.

found the mosquito net good for keeing bugs out in the evening. I'm a very satisfied Soulpad owner!

The soulpad website isn't quite as appealing as the belltent one,and belltent have this doorway that is meant to stop any rain coming in,but soulpad owners all seem really happy.don't know anyone who's bought from belltent.

Well, I've got an Obelink (from Holland) one, which is the same tent as the Belltent one, and love it.

I've heard Soulpad is supposed to have good customer service. I've bought a hammock from them, and was happy with the service.

Hmm, really, a pointless post from me then, but thought I'd just add that the tent itself is great. :) Having camped in it a couple of times (around 10 nights, I think), I never felt the need for mosquito netting. We might just be lucky with the places we've been to.

We have a soulpad, and the mosquito net is great. If I had a belltent one without, I'd be sewing one in I think.

Would you be thinking of getting an awning at all? That's next on my wish list, as having just spent a wet weekend away, an awning in front of the door, where we could park wellies and cooking equipment would have been fantastic. Had no problems with water coming in the door though.

The customer service has been very good. We had to wait a while for our tent as they were out of stock, and ordering a new batch (as were Belltent I believe), but they sent lots of friendly emails keeping me updated!

Maybe its a soulpad then-I am just wooed by the lovely candle lit pictures on the belltent site,but the inner tents and other stuff all seems about the same.I have a wasp sting allergy so the net doorway appeals to me for that reason mainly.I am thinking of a tent with a zip on groundsheet,so that I can use it zipped,(wasp paranoia)but when the DDs are older they can use it with the walls unrolled if they want.Does that sound sensible?I've never bought a tent before.

hellymelly, why don't you go and sleep one night in a pre-pitched bell tent, to see for yourself what you like and you don't?

You don't have to spend loads for an all-bells-and-whistles site (which looks fab, e.g. Jollydays or My Secret Belltent), as you could go for a basics one like Welsummer, which'll cost you £45 per night, I think. Compared to the cost of the bell tent and accessories if you decide to go that way, it's not too much a waste.

Mind you, I didn't do it that way, but seriously considered it. At that stage I only knew about the expensive places, though.